Murphy Rogers Welcomes Judge James Kuhn, Counsel Phoebe Hathorn, and Associate Evan Zizzi to the Firm
Updated 18 September 2026 -
Murphy Rogers is pleased to welcome three new members to its team of attorneys - retired Louisiana First Circuit judge James “Jimmy” Kuhn, counsel Phoebe Hathorn, and associate Evan Zizzi - as well as full-time law clerk Isil Beyza Bala.
Judge Kuhn is a native of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and he is a graduate of Loyola University Law School. After starting his career as an assistant district attorney, Judge Kuhn was elected to the 21st Judicial District Court bench and then to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals, serving as an appellate judge for a total of twenty (20) years until his retirement in 2014. Following his return to private practice, Judge Kuhn has handled a variety of litigation matters, and the Firm looks forward to him bringing his substantial appellate court experience expertise to the team, specializing in briefing and arguing on matters such as civil appeals and criminal writs, in addition to trial court motions and arguments.
Phoebe Hathorn is a Mississippi native, and she is a 2011 graduate of Louisiana State University and a 2014 graduate of Tulane University Law School, where she earned a Certificate in Maritime Law and served on the Editorial Board of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. Phoebe’s addition to the team strengthens the Firm’s existing practice through her experience in maritime defense, general casualty, insurance coverage, and complex litigation, as well as contract negotiation and contractual risk allocation. The Firm is excited to welcome Phoebe and the breadth of experience and maritime knowledge she brings to the team.
Evan Zizzi was born and raised in West Monroe, Louisiana, and he is a 2022 graduate of Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where he earned a Diploma in Comparative Law in addition to his Juris Doctor. Evan began his career as a litigator in Thibodeaux, with his experience including commercial and business litigation, employment matters, and contractual disputes. Following a move to New Orleans, Evan joins Murphy Rogers as an advocacy-focused associate, and the Firm is glad to have him on the team as well.
The Firm is also pleased to welcome Isil Beyza Bala as a full-time law clerk for the year. Originally from Turkey, Isil completed her Bachelor of Laws at Ankara University Faculty of Law, and she recently obtained her L.L.M. in Admiralty from Tulane University Law School. In addition to being a Fulbright Scholar, Isil was recently named the winner of the 2026 ABA TIPS Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee Writing Competition, and the Firm is thrilled to have her working with us at the start of her maritime career.